The non profit Allsongslist reg. began in 1984 and has more than one thousand songs, all the Elton John charts, all the set lists of the concerts since 1970, all the album tracks, etc. This is not an Official Elton John site and is intended for personal use and entertainment only, and share time with eltonites. In 2017 due to Elton's 70th BDay, the 50 years of partnership between Elton and Bernie and the 33 years of AllSongsList all will be revealed

Total Pageviews

31 Jan 2010

When the SFWC album was released the impact of the album and song was not proportional to its quality. See the chart results:

US, not reach the chart

Canada, not reach the chart

UK, N. 39

Ireland, not reach the chart

France, not reach the chart

Germany, not reach the chart

Austria, not reach the chart

Switzerland, not reach the chart

Holland, not reach the chart

Italy, not reach the chart

Spain, not reach the chart

Norway, not reach the chart

Sweden, not reach the chart

Japan, not reach the chart

Southafrica, not reach the chart

Australia, N. 54

New Zealand, not reach the chart

Brazil, not reach the chart

not reach the charts in other countries!!!

If it was a very beatiful and classic song, why it did not reach the charts? Unbelievable!!!

At least, the song at Top 10 in every country. That single was not number 30 in England? Not number 100 in US? My God!!! Injustice!! "Original Sin " should be a number one single. The song, from the album "Songs From The West Coast", was released as third single instead the first one. The song is reminded as one of his best works in the 10/15 years, maybe since "Believe", and Bernie Taupin lyric is definitive. And the song, reminded as one of the favourite songs by eltonites.So, let's repair that injustice. Please, if you think as me, join the group. We gonna prepare a massive download of the single in every country of the world between March, 22 and March, 26. Your suggestions will be well received. We gonna make history!!!

Jack Rabbit's other reasons:

"Elton is been doing very beatiful master songs. He should be remembered for "Original Sin", not for "Candle In The Wind 1997". Not that record, "Original Sin" Top 10 in your country for St. Valentine's, that is the record."

"The video is very beatiful, Elton finally appeared in a video not playing, as an actor. Interesting point of view! That video reminds me my youth and my first Elton concert, when everything was magic, for being the first, I suppose: finally in front of him"

"Maybe the record company should release "Original Sin" as the first or at least second single. Elton did a classic album with "Songs Frm The West Coast" and we still don't know today, why they didn't put out singles in US."

29 Jan 2010

Hello eltonites, welcome to our homage to one of the greatest percussionist I've ever seen. Really it was difficult to replace Ray Cooper, but someone did an incredible job on the band. Before John Mahon, another percussionist took the cymbals, the congas, the drums, everything, to deliver unforgettable performances. It was such a short period of time with Elton, but she left nice memories and a deep love for her. The doors of allsongslist are all wide open to receive the one, the only, the unbelievable... Jody Linscott!!!! Nice to have you here, Jody, thank you very much for the accpetation, it's such incredible to have you here. Let's gonna start, if you give me your permission.

Which are your most beautiful memories of your childhood? How it was growing up in Massachussets?

My family loves Art of all kinds so my growing up was full and unusual. My favorite memories of childhood are ones of sneaking around the house when i should have been in bed, checking out the jazz musicians invited by the folks to the house when they gigged in town. The 78 rpm records were blasting and they had so much fun! otherwize, don't remember much about Boston really i left for England at 17 i believe and stayed until now.

What attracted you to percussion? What was the first percussion instrument you learned to play? And who were your influences?

It was my fathers amazing finger tapping... particularly at the dinner table. He was very knowledgable of rhythm and music. He unconciously did it i found out later but it grabbed my attention and of course being his daughter i tried to emulate it by first tapping out 'Wipeout' as fast as i could and then took to the pots and pans ...influences came from all directions probably because i had no direction of my own. At home we listened to and loved West side story and olther musicals, my fathers jazz record collection (Dixieland) and folkmusic collection (travelin songs... Woody Guthrie, Dave Van Ronk etc) english pop music, my mums favorites Judy Garland live at Carnegie Hall, Barbara Striesand, the sounds of nature on record... whale calls, wolves howling, birdcall, scottish bagpipes, Mahalia Jackson, the blues and classical of course, to name a few. Also my biggest influence was a master drummer called Mustapha Tety Addy from Ghana. He actually taught me 3 times and that style and content did it for me. Too bad i couldn't have had more time with him!

And you moved to London, where you signed your first professional contract with a band named Kokomo (name coming from an Aretha Franklin song, "First Snow in Kokomo", a small town in Indiana, USA). Kokomo, formed in May 1973, had a solid live reputation and were signed to CBS. I heard you was working as a waitress at Dingwalls in Camden Town at that time... How you get involved with them? I think it was in 1975, right?

Yes It was. I sat in with them as I used to do with alot of the bands that played there- if they let me-on my breaks. I kept my homemade congas in the cloakroom. Kokomo just were so great i played with them all night and got fired by dingwalls and hired shortly after by Kokomo.

Also you were in Paul Mc Cartney’s movie project, "Give My Regards To Broad Street", film completed by May 1983. Paul recorded all the tracks seen on the soundtrack album, some of which are re-workings of Beatle songs and his own solo works. How did you come to work with him?

He asked me and I said YES!

Great! After that you had the challenge of working with more variety of main stream artists through the 80's and 90's, from Joan Armatrading, Billy Bragg, Phil Collins, Ray Davies, Eric Clapton, Patti LaBelle, John Mayall, Nils Lofgren, David Gilmour, The Clash, Robert Palmer, Pet Shop Boys, Tom Jones, Hamish Stuart, Bryan Adams, The Who, Dido, Avril Lavigne, Mike Oldfield, Carlos Santana... Wow!! an ending list of superstars, really... I saw you in Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells Concert in Barcelona and for me it was one of most beatiful spectacles I’ve ever seen...

Thankyou.

Jody, how you originally hook up with Elton and how you ended up recording and touring with him? Also, how do you value that experience from a personal point of view?

Luckily Ray Cooper couldn't do this particular tour and i was called in. It was truly valuable in every way. First off, I was thoroughly amazed at Eltons piano playing. I mean I knew he could play but he blew me away night after night. And we worked with a huge orchestra in the australian leg of the tour. It was fastinating, the difference in approach we scruffy rock n rollers had to them! We were amazed at how they read every note every night and still played with such passion and they were amazed that we didn't read and could still execute the songs at all!

Have you been an Elton fan before? Remember the first time you heard Elton’s music and what moves you to buy his music, in that case?

Elton was all over the radio of course and i liked his songs but to be truthful i was listening to other stuff at the time....so I got to discover him properly on the gig! which was unexpected pleasure I might add.

Leather Jackets sessions were in the middle of Elton's worst drugs days. Lot of material from those sessions weren't as good as Gus Dudgeon should expected, and Elton's mood was up and down. Also Elton wrote songs not only with Bernie’s lyrics, Gary Osborne was there too... What do you remember about that period? And how it was to work with Elton recording in the studio?

I was heavily pregnant during most of the tour and during the making of that record in Europe and my memories are of him in a good mood. I don't remember it being anything but a pleasant time though i had to leave early to have a baby. Things might have been tempestuous on tour from time to time....but in the studio he seemed comfortable. He and Gus seemed to have a good time together. Gus was great.

Elton began to have serious problems with his voice, at the America's leg of the Tour. How the band received Elton’s announcement of his throat problems and he had to been operate? It should be hard when he collapsed in the middle of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra introduction on december 9, 1986...

How can one feel anything but sympathy when someone is going through something like that. It was very worrying for him and for us all and difficult to witness. He's tough though.

Elton married Renate Blauel in Australia, in 1984, but divorced in 1987. Have you ever been in touch with her? How Renate was? Elton had referred to her sense of humour, intellegency...

I met Renata when in the studio with Pete Townshend.... she was the tape op! We all liked her.... she seemed smart and funny, yes. We were suprized to find Elton and her married!

At that time and even now there aren’t many female percussionists. When you replaced Ray Cooper in Elton’s band, you was billed as “the one of the few female percussionists in the world”... How difficult is it to be in a male dominated profession?

Great!!! What type of drumming is your own favorite style? What moves you in the direction to find new drumming sounds?

Well i always liked good funky bands... i loved being in Kokomo...but its a difficult question because i really go through fazes of going crazy for this for a while and then that.... what inspires me to find new drumming sounds is what the music suggests. sometimes you listen to a piece of music and you want to add a sound that you just can't buy so you got to find it somehow.. it could be something that isn't a standard percussion instrument at all.... like the sound sawing a piece of wood makes..you think it would be perfect for this song, so you saw a piece of wood! and it may be whacky but it sure is fun to invent something......

You are also a childrens book author and had two books out by Doubleday, both edited by Jackie Onassis, about a band of wandering musicians called The Worthy Wonders, who, en route to a gig, are shipwrecked on a mysterious island. You have written several songs for the books...

Yes, all true. It turns out i have a little talent for writing kids songs.

What would you like the future to have in store for you? What other recent projects have you become involved with?

lots of gigs. I like playing out. Swing out Sister! And is it ever fun. Smallishband.. no drummer can you believe! we have invented a brilliant sound and when we play, everyone..us and the audience have a great time. Have had to concoct a few new things for that gig I can tell you!

Oh, finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList, where I tried to find the best of Elton’s songs ever?

Thank you very much Jody, so honoured to have you here on the blogsite. Oh, before you go, I've got here some people they want to tell you something. They kindly agree to collaborate and sent me their thoughts about you, with the pretention to make you smile. Hope you like it.

Fred Mandel, musician: “Jody was my buddy on the road. She is a great percussionist.....one of the best in my opinion. I was just watching a Tom Jones concert on tv recently and Jody was up there tearing it up! She was a lot of fun to hang out with on the road and there are some funny stories that came from that time period. I respect her a lot as a musician....she's a badass player and an asset to any situation she's involved with. I haven't seen her in a long while but we're still pals and I wish her the best in all her endeavors”.

Jody Linscott played 111 concerts with Elton John. Since 01 march 1986, with his first show, until 14th December 1986, he's been travelling around the world and has visited so many countries. So: how many countries had she been performing? Which was the song most played live by her? Take a look!

Your Song (29 times)Cold As Christmas (26 times)Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (26 times)Have Mercy On The Criminal (26 times)Heartache All Over The World (26 times)Slow Rivers (26 times)Take Me To The Pilot (26 times)Tiny Dancer (26 times)Can I Get A Wittness? (25 times)Tonight (25 times)

28 Jan 2010

Althought Jody Linscott was born in the US, she went to England, in 1971, on a holiday "and never went back. I was squatting and studying to be a bookbinder", in her own words. Walking along in Camden Town, suddenly, she noticed a poster at the African Centre saying "Mustapha Tete Ade – Master Drummer from Ghana", and got fascinated with all the African rhythms on strange drums. Jody tried to play some rhythm: "I was just tapping along on the drum unconsciously. It turned out that the rhythm that I played was the rhythm that complimented what he was playing so it was all really surprising - I felt kinda goofy actually" she reminded.

After this first percussionist experience, she got a job at Dingwalls, in Camden Town too, as a waitress, and when it was possible, she joined the bands playing in the centre with her congas. When she got fired from Dingwalls, Jody was hired by Kokomo during one of their soundchecks. Kokomo were formed in May 1973, and their name came from an Aretha Franklin song, "First Snow in Kokomo" (a small town in Indiana, USA). That was her first professional band who shortly after got and signed a mega deal with Epic records through Steve O'Rourke, Pink Floyd's manager, and then Kokomo's manager.

Then, Jody went on to work with Robert Palmer on the album "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley" and contacted him when she heard that Palmer was looking for a percussionist to go on tour. She built her own percussion rack for the tour to provide a variety of creative sounds, and toured with Palmer in America for about two years.

On December 28th, 1991, it was held the Amnesty International 30th Anniversary Concert. David Gilmour was the musical director, and he got some of his friends and colleagues for the band, Tim Renwick (guitar, vocals), Pino Palladino (bass) and Jody Linscott (percussion) were there. Linscott also performed in the 2007 Princess Diana Tribute concert playing percussion in the house band/orchestra.

23 Jan 2010

Bernie announced months before the intention to record with Elton an album, as a "collaboration of old and new friends promises to represent a direction that has been fermenting for years in the heads of its perpetrators". This time, overseen and produced by Henry (T-Bone) Burnett, Elton will collaborate with one long time musical heroe: Leon Russell. It seems they will feature on a 50/50 basis writing and performing his own material for the project as well as Leon writing with both Bernie and Elton and performing and singing on the pairs own songs.

A marathon writing session in Los Angeles last November saw the trio pen a vast wealth of material that ranges far and wide and covers many musical genres. “Elton has written a bunch of songs then he’s going back in the studio in January and February, so I expect the album will probably come out at the back end of next year,” revealed David Furnish. What do our experts think about this project? What could we expect about this album? And about T-Bone Burnett as the producer? What did Bernie meant with the phrase “represent a direction that has been fermenting for years in the heads of its perpetrators”?

Hello experts, thanks for being here. Hallo, Ciao, Hola, to everybody. Please, silence. Let's we argument about this new project. Who's gonna start?

"Elton always said that Leon Russell was a hero and a huge influence to him. He explained how intimidating it was to play in front of him at the Troubadour Club (LA), in his US debuts. He even sang Leon's "Song For You" sometimes in concert" started the new welcomerPatrick Andrey, from Switzerland, thank you. It's true.Wimfrom Holland added: "Leon Russell composed some of my favourite songs including: Song for You, Superstar, Delta Lady, This Masquerade. Super songs. But…… unfortunately I think he is not a great singer. All the above mentioned songs are best known by other great artists, like Ray Charles, The Carpenters, George Benson and Joe Cocker". Annafrom Spain, recognized: "Although I’m not really familiar with Leon Russell’s work, I’m quite excited about this new project". As Wim says: "The idea to combine two great composers together in a new project is very good".

But Ian, from UK, had it clear: "I am not a fan of Leon Russell and don't like his vocals very much. I would much rather hear that Elton and Bernie were working on a new Elton John album without Leon Russell". It seems he's not the only one to think this, eltonites: "Also, if I have to tell the truth, Leon is undoubtely a great composer and piano player, but I don't like his voice" explainedAndrea Grasso from Italy. "Nowadays, Leon Russell is not a mainstream artist. I had to do my homework to have an idea of his music and I can now clearly understand why he was so influential on Elton. His piano playing is really close to Elton's and I think that the chemical reaction between the two artists would be interesting" continued Patrick Andrey with security. Ana, from Brazil, takes the new turn: "I still don't know exactly what to expect from this project, but I'm all for Elton to explore his creativity, new sounds and new challenges. I do not know Leon's work, apart from watching some videos on youtube. I find his vocals annoying, to be honest. It remembers me of Bob Dylan. On the musical side, the album can be an exciting project. Leon is a recognized composer, musician and it certainly one of the reasons Elton wants to collaborate with him. When two great composers/musicians get together, great things may come out".

And would be that a duet album, maybe, people? "On the vocal side, listening to Leon, it's hard to picture Elton making a duets album with him. Leon's voice is screeching, so performing with Elton, in my opinion it's like trying to mix water and oil. They will never blend. I may be wrong and be surprised in the end, though". Wow! I am with Ana. "Usually I don't like when Elton duets with someone else (unless the other is one of my favourite artists too! But this is not the case), so when I knew that his new album would have been composed entirely with duets with Leon I was disappointed" Andrea continued with resignation while saying: "But I have faith in what Elton do so I still think it might be a good album, hoping that the singing part will be 90% Elton and 10% Leon...". "So I hope when the idea is composing together some songs and let Elton sing, than it’s a good idea. If it turns out to be a duet album of Elton and Leon than I say definitively NO" agreed Wim. I didn't see so much enthusiasm on this project, really. "A new album is always a pleasure, but with Leon Russell perhaps we can expect for country music influences; I don't appreciate this sort of music so much. But with Elton John it will probably be different". Hope so Laurent, from France.

"Elton is often criticised for always staying in the safe side and never taking risks: he doesn’t change his set lists often, he locks himself in a recording studio every 2 or 3 years but most people never get to know about his new album, it's just another elton john album... so I’m thinking this might be a good thing for him to do, just do something completely different and have some impact on everyone. I don’t think this will be a huge commercial success, but it may help Elton get some credit and respect for his quality as a musician, which he really deserves!"Ah!! Good point of view, Anna.While Andrey added: "What could we expect with this album? It's a collaboration between three gifted musicians. It may result a lot of great songs. I don't expect something very "commercial". I think it's a dream project for Elton, let's hope it will become a dream album for us". "One of my mottoes is to not raise expectations too high – for anything – and that includes expectations regarding the next Elton John studio album"introduced our big boss Stephan, from Germany:"Frankly speaking, it is exciting to know that Elton and Bernie are working together on a new project, and throwing Leon Russell and T-Bone Burnett in the mix might give it an interesting flavor. But wether the end result will suit my musical taste or not I just don’t know. What’s important to me, however, is that Elton is writing and recording what he feels like writing and recording without any commercial pressure. In that regard the statement of Bernie is promising".

"But this can be a classical new album. Also with the producer T-Bone Burnett. But there are more rumours Elton would make a dance album? Elton always surprises me, every new album is a surprise, and that’s also what I like about Elton". Yes, Wim, thanks for introduce T-Burnett here as the producer. Do you experts like him as the producer? "T-Burnet is a recognized producer, so we should expect a great album, musically speaking. What I got disappointed is that Elton's band may not be involved in this project. All of the musicians in the Elton's band are extremely competent, but as a back up band there's only so much they can do. They do not have opportunity to explore their creativity. Guy Babylon for example was a huge talent, a so gifted musican that many fans are not even aware of his talent, but as an EJ keyboard player he couldn't show how much he was capable of in terms of musicianship and the other guys experiment the same situation. It's just a matter of Elton saying let's do something different and I'm sure he wouldn't be disappointed. The boys certainly would wecome new challenges with Elton and Leon and give their best to this new project",thanks Ana, muito grato. "T-Bone Bunett produced Elvis Costello's latest album, "Secret, Profane and Sugarcane". As you all know it, Costello in one of EJ's best friends and is co-responsible for the reunion between Elton John and Leon Russell. Elton explained: "That was a complete result of … ‘Spectacle’ (Elvis Costello's TV-Show) - by me talking about Leon, playing Leon, seeing him (on video) and then phoning him up, saying, ‘Listen, I haven’t seen you for so long, I just want to tell you how much I loved you,’. And he loved the show, and then I said ‘Let’s do something together.’ … I’m so excited about that"continued Patrick, introducing a new element."I am not really a fan of country music, but T-Bone Burnett is a good producer, and his style is more blues based country and blue grass. When I heard that Robert Plant was recording an album with country artist Alison Krauss and produced by T-Bone, I wasn't too keen, but when the album came out I liked it"agreed Ian. "I've heard people saying that T-Bone is one of the best producer in the world; I know him very little but from what I read he has an integrity and way of working that doesn't allow synths and just select the best songs to be included, so I trust in him and I am keen to hear the results of his production"concluded Andrea.

So I could say that maybe this is not the album we could expected, we like that Elton and Bernie would be in the studio again, we don't like Leon's vocals and T-Burnett is a well-received producer. Ok, I see. Maybe this won't be a duet album, imagine that Elton and Bernie would write and compose only for Leon? Just for him? Without Elton doing nothing more than composing. That should be disastrous, really. Ok! Ok! Just an idea, please, silence!!! Well, what did Bernie meant about these criptic phrase of "years of fermenting the idea and so on?

Andrea started:"Still that phrase is a bit of mystery to me: probably the "old friend" is Leon Russell (but as Elton confirmed in a recent interview, the idea to work with him came suddenly last year, it was not "fermenting for years"), but also Jim Keltner, and maybe there will be other musicians with whom Elton worked with (probably the classic EJ band won't play in this album). The "new friend" might be T-Bone Burnett, I don't think Elton has ever worked with him. The "direction that has been fermenting for years" might just be to do an album country/blues (at least it seems that this will be the genre), even without Leon... but maybe we will understand Bernie's line when we hear the album or maybe we won't never understand what he meant to say!".Great. Yes, Anna:"This is a project that seems to have been completely Elton’s idea. I have no clue what Bernie meant when he talked about “a change in direction that has been fermenting for year’s in the minds of its perpetrators”, but my guess is that they have probably realized that they will never have a hit album again, and they probably have bowed to concentrate on doing great music and enjoying themselves with whatever they decide to do...just my guess. As Elton said in a recent interview with Danny Baker in BBC radio 5, he came up with the idea of recording with Leon Russell while he was listening to some old records of Leon Russell when on holiday in South Africa. This is something spontaneous, and we all know Leon has always been one of Elton’s heroes". True again. "I imagine he meant to say that Elton and Leon have in mind an album different from everything else they have done so far in their career; a work they had in mind for a long while, but didn't have the opportunity of making it".Completely agree, Ana. "And with Bernie we always had good surprises, so it will be a new direction..."added Laurent.

"But let's wait and see, it may turn out to be a good album, let's not write it off until we have heard it"concluded Ian."Just being there in the studio with one of his biggest influences is probably the spark to get the best out of him. Kind of like the recent live shows with Ray Cooper...he was like the spark that started the fire... I hadn’t heard such inspired versions of some of his songs for a long time. So, I think 2010 is going to be a great year…we have a lot to look forward to!"

Ahhhh!!!Anna that's a great close to our comitee of today. Thanks people for everything. We will reunite again next time with other discussion. I am really glad to having you all, so many thanks.

16 Jan 2010

Hello Eltonites! Welcome to the 26 year of Allsongslist. I would love to celebrate that with a great eltonite on my side. You could read her thoughts and comments, specially, on the Elton John Forum. And she's a dearest person. Ladies and gentlemen, please get up to receive the one and only: KafrynAnne!!!

But first… Could you tell us, more, who are you and where are you from?

My name is Samantha Minns and I am from Sydney Australia

Thank you! And when you became an Eltonite? Remember the first time you heard Elton’s music and what moves you to buy his music?

The first time I heard Elton's music was on the radio in the car and the song just made such an impact on me I needed to hear more

Great!!! What was it like seeing Elton for the first time and how many concerts have you been at? And also, could you tell us if you have ever been in touch with him, got a signed autograph or even, spoken with him or with other members of his band?

I have only been to one of Elton's concerts (the Sydney Entertainment Centre) and seeing Elton up on the stage is a moment I will never forget. The lights the music and of course Elton in his stage costume all just made me a very happy!

For sure!!! And which songs do you think Elton should add to his current set list, and what would it be life if Elton suddenly played a song that he has never played before? And your favorite live songs to be in? And, for you, which member of the band is (or was) irreplaceable? Miss someone, now?

I LOVE the songs 'Mona Lisas and Mad hatters' and 'Levon' I really wish Elton would play more often is 'Empty Garden'and for me my favourite member of the Elton John band (excluding Elton) is the drummer Nigel Olsson

Ok! How it was, and still is, the success of Elton in your country? Which have been his hits in sales terms? And which are australian’s favorite Elton's albums or songs? And could you still hear Elton's music in the radio, nowadays?

Elton is still very popular is Australia as he was years and years ago and it seems that Australian's have favourite albums such 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' and of course 'Live in Australia 1986'.

The radio mainly only plays his greatest hits

Precisely, as you know, this is the Week OF 1986. Which are your feelings about “Leather Jackets” album? In Australia it was a number one record but worlwide was disastrous in sales terms.

I never really liked the 'Leather Jackets' album as much as other albums and I am not sure how it got to number one in Australia... but I do remember buying two copies

What do you think about news of Elton going to studio again for a 2009 album? What type of album would you expect? And the record's company release of more DeLuxe editions, without forgetting an special box of Elton's duets and rock numbers, and so on?

I think it is great that Elton is recording a new album and I think it would be surprising to see what kind of album it will be but I hope it will be really succesful

Right! Which is your Elton’s item that you really appreciate, for being hard to get or for the happiness you’ve got to have it?

It would probably have to be my Elton John tour shirt I got at my first (and only) concert that went to as a teenager that shirt was just made that day (well year as I almost never took it off!)... I still wear the shirt even now and luckily it still fits after all these years!